Ribbon-shifting means for calculators



W. FUHRMANN.

RIBBON SHIFTING MEANS FOR CALCULATORS. APPLICATION FILED 'Nov. 27, 1918.

1,352,593. Patented Sept. 14, 192%.

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" 1 UNITED STATES WARREN FUHRMANN, OI! WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN c MENTS, TO WILKINSON BROTHERS AND COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK,

a N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PATENT OFFICE.

RIBBON-SHIFTING MEANS FOR CALCULATORS.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

Application filed November 27, 1918. Serial No. 264,453.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, WARREN FUHRMANN, a citizen of the United States, residin at We'stfield, in the county of Union and tate of .New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Ribbon-Shifting Means for alculators, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to means for controlling the printing of the special amounts and characters in' a calculating machine, in a color'different from that in which the items are printed.

The invention is especially designed for use with mechanism in which the printing of the special signal character that designates the special amount is elfected at once on the depression of the special key, and

vprevious to the printing of the special amount, that is done when the handle or main operating member is actuated.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating one embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a partial plan view. Figs. 3 and 4 show one of the ribbon supports. Fig. 5 shows the two-color ribbon.

In U. S. Patent No. 1,167,000, is set forth a two-color ribbon in connection with signal printing means that operate on depression of the special key. In such machine the ribbon is normally supported to print in red, so that the signal character will print in red; But when any amount is printed, either an item or a special amount, the ribbon is previously shifted so that the number is printed in black. The present invention differs from this construction in that the ribbon is shifted at once on initial depression of the special key, and the signal character is printed in the special color, and the ribbon remains shifted for the next operation of the printing mechanism that prints the special amount, that'will be printed in this special color.

As shown the side plate 5 of the machine is provided with special keys 6, 7, 8 and 9, that by means not herein set forth-cause special operations of the machine to produce special results, such as a total, a sub-total, a non-print operation or a non-add operation. These keys are provided with pins 10, 11, 12 and 13, that when the key is depressed engage slots 14, 15, 16 and 17 in a sliding bar 18, to move the bar rearward and tension a retracting spring 19 for the bar.

At the rear of the machine is the usual platen 20 arranged to be engaged by the type 21 in the type carriers 22, that are elevated to bring a selected one of their several type to the printing position, to be struck by a hammer, in the manner well known in this art. These hammers strike through a suitable ribbon 23, that is fed across the type from spools 24 and 25, in the usual intermittent manner, as in calculators and typewriting machines. This ribbon 23 has it upper portion colored differently from its lower portion such as black and red in the upper and lower portions respectively.

This ribbon is shown as controlled by a frame comprising side portions 26 and 27 pivoted at the rear by screws 28 and 29, the side plates being connected by a cross bar 30 at the top to swing together. On supporting side plates 31 and 32 are mounted slotted guide plates 33 and 34, by means of screws in the supporting plates. These guide plates have opposed lugs 35 and 36 arranged to receive the ribbon. The guide plates have a vertical movement by reason of this support and is each pivotally connected with the arm 26 and 27 respectively, so that the swing of these arms will raise the guide plates and elevate the ribbon.

I provide means connecting the slide 18 with the arms 26, 27. The arm 26 has an extension 37 provided with a stud 38, that engages an arm 39 on a rock shaft 40. This rock shaft also carries an arm 41, that is connected by a link 42 with the said slide 18. From this it will be understood that when the slide 18 moves rearward the link 42 will rock the shaft 40, and the arm 26 will be swung upward. By its connecting bar 30 the arm 27 will also swing upward. These arms will move the ribbon guides 33 and 34 upwardly and raise the ribbon, and retain the ribbon in the shifted position until the bar '18 is retracted to normal position. In machines of this character it is 4-6 on the pitman 6 strikes a pawl on the latch and trips the latch.

hat I claim is:

1. In a calculator, the combination with the adding means and printing means, a main operating member, special keys for causing special operations of said means, and signal printing means organized and constructed to cause the printing of signals corresponding to the special keys by the actuation of the key and prior to movement of the main operating member, of a two? color ribbon support, and means connected with the special keys and arranged to be actuated by the special key depressed to cause shifting of the ribbon from normal position to cause the signal characters to print in a color different from that in which the other printing is effected.

2. In a calculator, the combination with the adding means and the printing means, a

main operating member, special keys for causing special operations of said means, and signal printing means organized and constructed to cause the printing of signals corresponding to the special keys by the actuation of the key and prior to movement of the main operating member, of a movable two-color ribbon support, a bar arranged to be advanced by each of said special keys when depressed, and means connected with the bar and ribbon support and arranged to cause shifting of the ribbon from normal position to a position in whlch to cause the signal characters to print in a color different from that in which the other printing is effected, when the bar is advanced by the special key.

3. In a calculator, the combination with the adding means and the printing means, a main operating member, special keys for causing special operations of said means, and signal printing means organized and constructed to cause the printing of signals corresponding to the special keys by the actuation of the key and prior to movemeht of the main operating member, of a movable two-color ribbon support, a bar arranged to be advanced by each of the keys when depressed and to control the relative movements of the keys, and means connected with the bar and ribbon support and arranged to cause shifting of the ribbon from normal position to a position in which to cause the signal characters to print in a color different from that in which the other printing is effected, when the bar is advanced by a rey.

4. In a calculator, the combination with the adding means and the printing means, a main operating member, special keys for causing special operations of said means, and signal printing means organized and constructed to cause the printing of signals corresponding to the special keys by the actuation of the key and prior to movement of the main operating member, a movable two-color ribbon support comprising a pair of pivot arms rigidly connected by a cross bar and a pair of slidable ribbon guides connected with the arms respectively, an extension on one of said arms having a stud, a rock shaft having an arm engaging said stud, a second arm on the rock shaft, a bar arranged to be advanced by each of the keys when depressed, and a link connecting the bar with the second arm whereby to shift the ribbon support and guides on advance of the bar by a key.

Signed at New York city, N. Y., on Nov.

Y WARREN FUHRMANN. 

